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Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is prevalent, and almost all medicines may cause this condition. In most instances, the drug induced liver injury is not severe and improves once the medication causing it is discontinued. But, to find out the drug that causes liver injury in an individual, it is essential to watch out for the symptoms and get medical help immediately to prevent further complications.
Medicines produce therapeutic effects and provide treatment, cure or management for various medical conditions. However, these medicines also induce side effects in an individual that can be as mild as nausea and vomiting or as severe as drug induced liver injury (DILI), which may become fatal. Please keep reading to learn about drug induced liver injury, its symptoms, treatment methods and recovery.
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Drug-induced liver injury is usually classified into two types. These two types include:
Besides the dose and total drug exposure time, idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury also depends on the uncommon response of the patient receiving it. Examples of medicines (drugs) that can cause idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury include using antimicrobial treatments, Amoxicillin-clavulanate.
The occurrence of drug induced liver disease is usually dependent on the interactions between the drug (medicine), the patient (host) and the environmental risk factors. This includes the following:
Many drugs are known to cause liver injury. These drugs include over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, prescription medicines and even herbal and dietary supplements. Examples of some drugs inducing hepatotoxicity or causing liver injury include the following:
Usually, drug induced liver disease symptoms appear about 3 to 6 months after the drug administration. They may vary from person to person. Where the symptoms are mild or chronic in some instances, some people don’t experience any liver injury symptoms at all.
However, the symptoms indicating drug-induced liver injury include the following:
Diagnosing drug induced liver injury is difficult. This is because most of the patients don’t experience any symptoms at all. And the ones who share it may not know that it is caused due to liver injury as the symptoms they experience are similar to other conditions.
However, depending on the symptoms being experienced by the patient, the healthcare provider may suggest some of the following tests:
The first treatment approach used to treat drug-induced hepatotoxicity is to stop the consumption of the drug causing it and avoid its exposure. A doctor may also use other treatment approaches to treat drug induced hepatotoxicity. These treatment approaches are as follows:
However, consult the doctor if you are facing any symptoms associated with drug induced hepatotoxicity to get the proper treatment at the right time. Do not self-treat yourself, as it can further worsen your condition.
The time taken to recover from drug induced hepatotoxicity typically depends on the drug that has caused it. Usually, the patient with drug-induced liver injury starts recovering in a few days to a week after cessation of the drug therapy.
However, the recovery might also be quick in some instances, whereas it may take a few weeks to months to recover entirely in others.
Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is an adverse reaction that usually depends on the interactions between the drug (medicine), the patient (host) and the environmental risk factors. It is highly prevalent, and almost all medications may cause drug-induced liver diseases. In most instances, the drug-induced liver injury is not severe and improves once the medicine causing it is discontinued.
If you or your loved ones have doubts or symptoms associated with drug-induced liver injury, contact our team of experts at HexaHealth. Our expert team of doctors can consult you and provide you with the proper treatment. Get in touch with us TODAY!
Yes, in case of mild drug induced liver injury, you may recover in a few weeks as soon as you stop taking medicine causing it. However, in the case of chronic drug-induced liver injury, it may take a few weeks to months for you to recover.
The time it takes for a liver injury to heal and recover from drug-induced liver injury or drug-induced hepatotoxicity typically depends on the drug that has caused it. Usually, the patient with drug-induced liver injury starts healing and recovering in a few days to a week after cessation of the drug therapy. In some instances, the healing and recovery might be quick, whereas in certain cases, it may take a few weeks to months.
A liver injury can be healed by getting it treated. The treatment includes removing the cause, like the medicine or drug causing it. Apart from that, lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol intake and avoiding tobacco consumption can help speed up healing. In case of chronic liver injury, a liver transplant may be needed.
Yes, acute liver injuries can be reversed in some instances with an appropriate treatment approach. However, a liver transplant might be the only option for obtaining a complete cure.
There are sure signs and symptoms that you might observe and which might indicate that your liver is healing. These signs of a healing liver include:
Drug-induced liver injury, or drug-induced hepatotoxicity, is treated by:
During drug-induced liver injury, hepatocellular destruction occurs. This may cause pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, jaundice and, in severe cases, even death.
If the liver damage is acute, then it may be curable; however, in the case of severe liver damage, it is primarily curable.
The drug-induced liver injury occurs in response to drugs (medicines) or xenobiotics. Drug-induced liver injury is otherwise also known as drug-induced hepatotoxicity. It can be caused by prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and herbal and dietary supplements.
Drug-induced liver injury is usually classified into two types. These types include intrinsic drug-induced liver injury and idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury.
Drug-induced hepatotoxicity occurs in response to drugs (medicines) or xenobiotics. Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is otherwise also known as drug-induced liver injury. It can be caused by prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and herbal and dietary supplements.
The occurrence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is usually dependent on the interactions between the drug (medicine), the patient (host) and the environmental risk factors.
The most common causes of liver injury include drug-induced liver injury, excessive alcohol consumption, and hepatitis infection.
During liver injury, the following liver enzymes are elevated or increased:
Last Updated on: 17 July 2023
MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES
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Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More
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